“What the hell have you been doing!?”

I received a hard slap from my mom. My tears fall as my face moved in motion due to its force. I didn’t reply at her. My eyes are just looking at my feet with blurry sight.

“I told you to fix it! I told you to leave that guy and stay with Aera but what have you done!? Son, this is not how I raised you. This is not how you are supposed to be!” she scolded me.

“Why would I stay to her when I don’t love her anymore, mom?” I looked at her. “I c-can’t stay with her anymore, mom. I’m going to hurt her more—“

“Then you should have talk things out with her!”

“I swear—“

“Don’t swear at me Choi Beomgyu!”

“Mom, I did everything. I even acted harsh and cold to her so she’ll give up but she didn’t! She’s desperate for me to stay with her!” my voice raised. “M-mom, I told her countless times but she’s not listening.”

There’s a silence between us and only my sobs is hearable. “She should have told me,” I muttered.

“How can she tell you if you’re busy with other guy?”

“Mom, the baby is mine too. That’s my child too. I have every right to know but she didn’t tell me at all. If she has said so,” I paused to cough. “Then maybe I decided to stay with her and love her again.”

I heard my mom sighs in disappointment. “Apologize to her family then come back to Daegu, we’re going to talk again there.”

She left my unit just like that and I started crying alone again. It was my fault. It was my entire fault. I should have pay attention to her and how she changes. I ignored the sign.

I could have saved the baby— our baby.

After couple of days being feeling ashamed and hiding inside my room. I decided to go out and talk to Aera. I told her to meet up with me in the park near their house.

“Hey,” I heard a voice from my back.

I saw Aera with her loose hoodie, thick scarf around her neck, track pants, and both hands is inside the hoodie’s pocket. She smiled at me and I just froze.

I don’t know what to say.

“Can I sit beside you?” she asked.

“Y-yeah,” I replied and we’re now both sitting in the bench, looking at the empty children’s playground.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized in low voice and looked down.

“It wasn’t your fault, Gyu,” she replied. “I wasn’t careful that’s why I lost her,” she added.

I looked at her who’s trying to smile at me. “Why are you so kind? Clearly, it was my fault. Please, be mad at me. Hurt me, slap me, I don’t care but don’t blame yourself, please,” I begged at her.

She looked away as tears fell and she quickly brushed it. “I decided not to tell you that I’m pregnant because I’m afraid you’ll leave me—“

“No, why would I do that to you?”

“Because I can feel it. I can feel that you don’t love me anymore. You love him more than I a-and a sudden thought cross in my mind that what if I told you, you’re going to make me abort the child?” she looked at me. “I c-can’t lose the baby, Gyu. You know how much I love to be a mother,” she cried.

I bit my lip and wiped my tears. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I didn’t saw your pain. I’m so sorry,” I apologized. “But I’m the father of the child, I’m responsible of her. I’m so sorry,” I apologized again.

“W-we can’t do anything about it anymore. S-she’s gone. S-she’s gone because I didn’t take care of her. I’m so sorry. I should have told you. I’m really sorry, Beomgyu. I’m an irresponsible mother,” she cried.

I gave her a hug and she cried on my shoulder. “It w-wasn’t your fault. You did your part as a mother. It wasn’t your fault,” I consoled while rubbing her back.

She cried on my shoulders until she calm down and slowly let go of me. “Let’s just accept it. Maybe, we aren’t still ready for her. I know she’ll come back when the time is right,” she said and forced a smile.

“Aera,” I called her name and she looked directly at my eyes. “Thank you for everything,” I expressed and held her trembling hand. “For the support, for the love, for everything. Thank you so much for loving me at my worst and being with me everytime. I appreciate it a lot. I am so lucky that I meet you,” I continued and she nods while crying.

“I am sorry for everything that I done. Sorry for cheating on you. Sorry for taken you for granted. Sorry for being a bad person to you. I hope you’ll forgive me and I loved you so much, Aera.”

She smiled. “Thank you Gyu. Thank you for loving me too. Thank you for staying with me too. It was wonderful being with you. I have the best times of my life because of you. I thought I’m going to walk on the aisle with you but I guess we were just meant to meet and learn at each other,” she stated.

“I am sorry too for everything and know that you are forgiven. I am also thankful that because of me, you found someone who you will love more. I am thankful that you didn’t end up with me because there’s someone much better than me that you really deserve. I loved you too, Beomgyu.”

Until the end she’s still kind. After everything that I did to her, she’s still like this towards me. She’s so nice that I don’t deserve her love. She deserves so much better and that’s not me and I can’t give her that.

We both smiled at each other and we hugged for the last time. Our memories we created since we meet will forever be treasured.

“I’m sorry for hurting your daughter,” I apologized and bowed until I my head reached the floor of their house.

“How dare you show up in here!” her dad yelled at me.

“Honey, stop that,” his wife stopped him. “He’s here to apologize. Go on, Beomgyu. What do you want to say?” she said.

I looked up them while I’m still kneeling at the floor. “I really loved your daughter, Aera and I was happy while I’m with her. Thank you so much for allowing us to meet and I’m really sorry for hurting her. I am now returning her to you. I’m so sorry,” I apologized and bowed again.

“I can’t believe you left my child just because of a guy,” I heard her dad scoffs.

“Honey! Stop that,” his wife again interferes. “Beomgyu, do you really love him?” she asked that made me look at her.

“Yes, eommonim,” I confirmed.

“Well, we can’t do anything about it anymore. I guess, thank you too for taking care of our daughter. I hope you’ll live the life that you wants and be successful to everything you want to do,” she stated and smiled at me.

“T-thank you so much eommonim!” I expressed and then she smiled even wider. I looked at her husband’s direction that’s glaring at me with cross arms. “I’m s-sorry too, sir.”

“Tsk! Good thing my child didn’t end up to you!”

“Y-yes,” I replied and stood up then bent as I bowed again to them. “I’ll head out now, thank you so much,” I said and then turned my back at them.

“Choi Beomgyu!”

I looked back at Aera as she called me. She smiles widely at me. “We’re still friends, right?”

“Friend my foot,” her dad scoffs and his wife hit his back.

I giggled. “Of course! See you around, Aera.”

We meet people from time to time that we don’t know until when they are going to be with them. Some stay for a while. Some stay and the go right after. Some are in there for us and we’re only waiting for them to go.

Aera and I shared so much from being friends to couple. I appreciate how she stayed with me during everytime. I never know this day will come because I only imagine asking her hand for marriage. I never know that I will end up apologizing to her parents as I return their child to them.

Maybe, we aren’t meant for each other. Maybe, we stayed together just to learn thing and applied to better person for us. Maybe, our relationship was a way to learn things and be better for ourselves too.

I cheated on her, I regret that somehow but good thing that I cheated on her, I found someone I wanted to love and willing to take a risk for everything just to be with him. I am glad that through that wrongful act, I found the one for me.

I know Kang Taehyun is meant for me and I’ll do anything to make him mine even if I’ll wait for years.